How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Smith's Longspur

Calcarius pictus

A medium-sized, ground-dwelling songbird of the Arctic tundra, distinguished by its warm buff underparts and complex social structure.

What it sounds like

A dry, rapid, clicking rattle similar to the sound of a winding watch, often transcribed as 'tick-tick-tick-tick'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:04

Rec. Frank Lambert · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Practices a rare polygynandrous mating system where both males and females mate with multiple partners during a single season.
Named by John James Audubon in honor of his friend Gideon B. Smith, a physician and entomologist.
Possesses an elongated, straight hind claw (the 'longspur') that provides stability while foraging in grassy environments.
Wintering populations are notoriously fond of the short-grass habitat found on small, rural airport runways in the southern Great Plains.
Males exhibit a striking breeding plumage featuring a black-and-white triangular face pattern and a rich ochre breast.

Habitat

Arctic tundra during the breeding season; short-grass prairies, grazed pastures, and airports during winter.

Range

Breeds across northern Alaska and Canada; winters primarily in the south-central United States, including Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatus Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus

Heard a Smith's Longspur?

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